Dye beck

ABSTRACT

A dye beck or vat assembly having longitudinally spaced transverse partitions therein defining with an enclosing shell a dyeing liquid containing compartment through which the fabric to be dyed is moved in which heat transfer fluid conduit means are directly formed with and extend over a substantial area of the face of each partition non-adjacent the dyeing liquid, a substantial area of the outer wall surface of the lower half of the shell and a portion of the outer wall surface of the top of the shell, so that when heating fluid circulates through all of those conduit means the formation of visible vapors in the space above the dyeing liquid is minimized and the progress of the dyeing process may be observed through observation ports provided in the shell.

United States Patent Vihl [ 51 Aug. 29, 1972 1 DYE BECK [72] Inventor: Bernard Vihl, 2 Glenwood St., Clifton, NJ. 07011 [22] Filed: June 1, 1971 21 Appl. No.5 148,733

[52] US. Cl ..68/15, 68/177 [51] Int. Cl ..B05c 11/11, D06f 39/04 [58] Field of Search ..68/5 C, 15, 16, 177;'8/158, 8/1493; 165/169 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,738,946 12/ 1929 Chapin et al. ..8/ 149.3 1,758,234 5/1930 Mijer ..8/149.3 2,289,930 7/1942 Payen ..68/ 177 X 3,030,791 4/1962 Brown et a1 ....68/15 X 3,289,439 12/1966 Hall ..68/ 15 3,318,376 5/1967 Vlhl ..l65/169 3,418,065 12/ 1968 Blount, Jr. ..8/ 158 X Primary Examiner--Williarn T. Price Attorney-Richard L. Cannaday [57] ABSTRACT A dye beck or vat assembly having longitudinally spaced transverse partitions therein defining with an enclosing shell a dyeing liquid containing compartment through which the fabric to be dyed is moved in which heat transfer fluid conduit means are directly formed with and extend over a substantial area of the face of each partition non-adjacent the dyeing liquid, a substantial area of the outer wall surface of the lower half of the shell and a portion of the outer wall surface of the top of the shell, so that when heating fluid circulates through all of those conduit means the formation of visible vapors in the space above the dyeing liquid is minimized and the progress of the dyeing process may be observed through observation ports provided in the shell.

12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAHB 72 SHEET 2 OF 2 INVENTOR BERNHARD VIHL ATTORNEY DYE BECK The present invention relates to the art of dyeing woven or knitted fabrics, and more particularly to a dye beck or vat structure or assembly in which said fabrics are subjected to exposure to a dye bath, that is, a bath of dyeing liquid. Various and sundry fabric dyeing becks or vats are known in which the fabric to be dyed is arranged in what is known as a rope formation, and is moved through a dye bath by reel means in the beck which is often closed and at least slightly pressurized according to modern practice. These processes are batch processes and the dyeing time is in the range of several hours, say from 8 to l hours per batch. The dye bath is heated by appropriate means, usually conduit coils in the bath through which steam is passed so that the desired dyeing temperature is obtained. In designing and constructing dye becks or vats loading ports are provided in the walls or shell structure of the vat so that the pieces of fabric to be dyed may be loaded into and removed from the vat, often by mechanical handling means.

The known arrangements are such that the heating conditions within the heck or vat may generate visible vapors, i.e., condensing vapors, in the region above the dye bath surface thus obstructing visual direct observation of the dyeing process, and requiring the use of secondary or spot checking means such as a sampling tube through which a stick to which a sample of the fabric is attached may be inserted into the dye bath. Further, when a particular batch of fabric has been subjected to the desired dyeing operation or exposure the beck or vat and its contents must be cooled down to allow removal of the dyed fabric and loading or charging of another batch to be dyed. Accordingly it is desirable to provide a dye beck or vat including heat transfer means so constructed and arranged as to facilitate proper and adequate heating conditions for the dyeing liquid body or dye bath; maintain the region of the beck above the liquid surface or level in such thermal condition that it is sufficiently clear of visible vapor to permit easy visual observation of operations,

being carried-out within the beck, and permit and pro vide rapid but controlled cooling of the beck and its contents for removal and replacement of fabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention providesv a dye beck or vat comprising a tank structure of customarily cylindrical form, means for supporting such structure with its major axis usually horizontal, interior partition wall means within the tank to define with the tank wall a dye bath region, and heat exchange means directly, physically embodied with the exterior tank wall and the outer faces of the interior partition wall means for heating the dyeing liquid and also and particularly for heating the interior tank space above the liquid surface so as to suppress visible vapor and thereby facilitate observation of the concerned space, and for cooling the tank and its contents of liquid and fabric expeditiously for unloading and loading of successive batches of fabric. Further, perforated wall means are so provided and associated with the interior partition wall means as to define weirs or dams for the removal of any debris or scum which may exist or be generated in the dye bath.

More particularly, the invention provides a tank structure including a base on which there is supported horizontally a shell having a cylindrical wall and opposite end walls closing the shell body. Interior partition or partial wall means of a solid or imperforate nature are disposed within the shell body inwardly of each of the end or closure walls to define a liquid compartment within the lower portion of the shell, and a reel mechanism is mounted within the shell above the normal liquid level so that fabric to be dyed may be fed through the liquid compartment by being dipped down into it and then pulled up out of it. Perforated wall means are mounted on at least a portion of the interior or liquid-contacting side of each partition wall means i or element, and terminate below the upper edges thereof so as to define weir spaces for scum of debris removal. There are means for introducing and/or circulating a dyeing liquid or concentrate into or through the liquid compartment. Heat transfer fluid conduit means are mounted directly onto the exterior surface of the cylindrical shell or body, substantially coextensive in length therewith and disposed along the lower half of the body and a portion of the top thereof, and further heat transfer fluid conduit means are mounted directly onto the surfaces of the interior imperforate partial walls facing the end closures.

By steam flowing through the partition wall and lower shell conduits the dyeing liquid may be heated to the desired working or operating temperature, while the space or region above the liquid surface is maintained sufficiently warm or indeed hot due to heating fluid flow through the heat transfer fluid conduit means on the top of the cylindrical shell that condensation of vapor in that space is prevented and visual observation of the dyeing progress and conditions may be effected through ports in the shell because no vapor clouds exist to obscure the view. After a dyeing operation has been completed on one batch of fabric, a cooling fluid is fed through the heat transfer fluid conduit means to reduce the temperature of the vat and its contents so that the dyed fabric may be removed or unloaded and a following batch of undyed fabric loaded or charged into the tank or dye beck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and substance of the present invention as well as its objects and advantages will be more clearly perceived and fully understood from the detailed description and claims given hereinafter considered in connection with the accompanying drawings comprising several illustrative figures described briefly as follows:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially broken away of a dye beck constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are opposite end elevational views of the dye beck shown in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the inventive dye beck taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numbers designate like parts throughout the several views, an overall or assembled dye beck or vat A includes a horizontally disposed body portion supported on base legs or struts B and having a cylindrical wall structure 1 of the desired length and diameter. lust at the ends of that wall structure are disposed transverse imperforate partitions 2 and 3 which extend up to approximately the midheight of the cylindrical wall. Perforated plate means 4 having offset or jogged ends 4' are secured to the inner or facing surfaces of the partitions with bolts to bring most of the area of each perforated plate into spaced relation with the associated imperforate partition. The perforated plates 4 have smaller verticaldimensions than the imperforate partitions 2 and 3 for a purpose set forth hereinafter. Closures 5 and 6 are welded to each end of the cylindrical wall structure 1. Those closures are drum head or dome shaped members, and the partition walls 2 and 3 are welded to very short cylindrical extension portions thereof before the heads or closures 5 and 6 are themselves welded in place to and all around the opposite ends of the main cylindrical wall structure.

A large access port or opening 7 is provided in end closure 6, and a door 8 is hingedly associated with that port. Dog devices of conventional nature serve to secure the door in closed position. Opening or port 7 is sufficiently large to serve as a man hole and also allow passage through it of machinery into and out of the dye beck. Additional access ports 9 are provided in the main cylindrical wall structure in one upper quadrant thereof. Hinged doors 10 having observation panels 11 set in them are provided to openably close the ports 9. Dogging means 12 hold those doors in closed position.

' In the opposite upper quadrant a plurality of lights 13 are mounted for illuminating the interior of the beck.

Each of the transverse, imperforate partitions 2 and 3 has an integral inverted channel-shaped flange 14 at the top thereof which extends toward the adjacent shell end closure. Those flanges each have different height reel standards or hearing brackets 15 and 16 welded thereto for supporting a fabric idler or follower reel 17 and a driven fabric takeoff reel 18, respectively. The latter reel is oval shaped transversely in its working region. A counterweighted rake beam R is mounted in bearing blocks welded to the flanges 14 so that each rope-like piece of textile or fabric material being dyed will pass between a set of the bars of the rake beam and be prevented from entanglement while being circulated into, through and out of the dye bath, over the illustrated reels, and back into the bath. End closure 5 has a bracket structure 19 welded thereto externally to support an electric motor drive unit 26 which is coupled to shaft 21 of the take-off reel 18 passing through the end closure in suitably rotatably sealed relationship therewith. Both reels are of slatted construction, and operate substantially conventionally according, for ex ample, to the disclosures in US. Pat. No. 3,418,065 to C. Blount, Jr., issued Dec. 24, 1968. The driven oval or elliptical takeoff reel 18 pulls fabric ropes off of idler reel 17 through the hot air or hot vapor space above the surface of the dyeing liquid. The reel 17, although usually termed an idler reel, is connected with shaft 21 of reel 16 by a chain and sprocket drive diagrammatically indicated at 22.

The pieces or ropes of fabric to be dyed are loaded into the beck through the access ports or openings 9 in a known manner, and passed over the reels with the major portion of each piece reposing in the bottom portion of the beck. The ends of each piece are temporarily connected. The size and shape or proportion or configuration of driven reel 18 are such that as a piece of material passes thereover it is folded and dropped in folds to the bottom portion of the liquid compartment or dye bath. Thus, the interior of the overall dye heck is divided into a lower space or portion LC containing dyeing liquid and the bulk of the fabric and an upper region or space U which accommodates the reels and part of the fabric. Upper space U, effectively including a small amount of lower space beyond the imperforate partition walls 2 and 3, is free of liquid and also, within the operative contemplation of the present invention, free of visible or condensing vapors particularly condensing steam or water vapor.

Serpentine heat transfer fluid conduit means 23 and 24 are provided on the outer surfaces of the partitions 2 and 3, at 25 and 26 along the outer lower half of the cylindrical wall 1, and at 27 and 28-along the top of that wall on opposite sides of .its center line. All of those conduit means include run and return bend members, and the conduits are made and installed preferably in the form and manner disclosed in my US. Pat. No. 3,318,376, issued May 9, 1967, and are so illustrated. Thus, most of the exterior wall surfaces or area of the liquid containing region or portion LC has such conduit means formed directly thereon. It would not, however, be contradictory of the broader principles of the present invention, and would indeed be within the scope of teachings of my US. Pat. No. 3,318,376 just mentioned, to have heat transfer fluid conduits here shown installed on outside or exterior surfaces installed on inside or interior surfaces instead.

Since the heat transfer fluid conduit means 25, 26 and 23, 24 include large portions of the cylindrical wall structure and the partition wall structure, heat transfer between fluid in the conduits and the dyeing liquid in space LC is facilitated whether for heating or cooling the dyeing liquid. The disposition of heat transfer fluid conduit means 27 and 28 on the top of the beck or vat, assuming that those conduit arrays are carrying a hot fluid such as steam, imparts heat to the upper wall surface and to the upper space U so as to minimize condensation and formation of visible vapors within the vat above the surface of the dyeing liquid. This permits clear observation of the progress or extent of the dye ing process steadily throughout the dyeing of any load of fabric in the beck.

In effect, conduit means 27 and 28 and the steam flowing through them perform a temperature and heat content maintaining or even superheating function with respect to vapor rising into region U from the dye bath in space or region LC. Conduits 23 and 24 and the steam flowing through them, while concerned primarily with heating the dyeing liquid, serve also to prevent condensation of if not superheat the vapor in the spaces between partitions 2 and 3 and their respectively adjacent shell end closures 6 and 5. if those spaces be regarded as parts or at any rate continuations of upper space U for at least thermostatic purposes, then the disposition of dyeing liquid space LC in relation to upper space or region U is essentially that of a liquid chest or box within a steam chest, a disposition or arrangement believed to be unknown to the prior art of dye becks. The perforated plates 3 define weirs with the partitions 2 and 3, so that any lint or other debris which may be floating on the surface of the dyeing liquid, or even somewhat below its surface, may be removed by way of bottom drains after passing either through or over the perforated plates. It is consistent with that operation or function that in their vertical extent perforated plates d terminate somewhat lower than partition walls 2 and 3.

in or on dye beck A as fully equipped and installed, end closure wall 5 is characterized by an opening CA through which compressed air may be introduced into the beck, and opposite end closure wall 6 has an opening S through which steam may be introduced thereinto. The admission of compressed air or steam or both into the dye beck is effected in accordance with the particular dyeing process involved. Suitable thermocouples are mounted relative to the end closure walls through openings T therein; a pressure reliever is associated with tube extension Re projecting above the top of cylindrical shell wall 1; a vacuum breaker is V mounted relative to another tubular projection V; a

thermometer is associated with a further projection Z, a safety valve is associated with still another projection X, and tubular projections M permit of insertion of hoist lines or other appropriate equipment to be used for lifting of the oval takeoff reel 18 and facilitating its removal through the large access opening 7 in end closure wall 6.

The dye beck of this invention is operated in a closed and sealed condition, and suitable controls are provided for the various involved fluid flows, although those controls do not themselves constitute part of the invention. With ropes of fabric arranged on and to be moved by the reels 17 and lid, dyeing liquid is introduced into liquid compartment LC via inlet connection 29. Drains 30 are at the bottom of the vat, and in particular draw from the weir or dam spaces between imperforate partition walls 2 and 3 and their associated perforated plates 4 for the removal of debris therefrom. Dye liquid overflow and outlet connections are provided at 31 and 32. Additional drains such as those indicated at 33 communicate with the spaces between the partition walls 2 and 3 and the end closure walls 6 and 5 for removal, for example, of any condensate tending to accumulate in the designated spaces. The dye liquid may be passed continuously into, through and out of compartment LC by an external pumping or circulating system, or it may be allowed to remain in the designated compartment and used until it is no longer effective. Further, it maybe replenished and exchanged as necessary or desired according to applicable dyeing procedures and doctrines, but no particular procedure or doctrine in that regard by itself constitutes any part of the present invention.

Suitable liquid level gauges and controls are provided with the gauge outlets being indicated at G. A petcock is connected at location P to permit sampling of the dyeing liquid. Each of the serpentine heat transfer fluid conduit arrays or sub-arrays 23, 2d, 25, 26, 27 and 28 is provided with flanged inlet and outlet openings or connection points, and those appear in the drawings. Which is used as an inlet and which as an outlet connection point for any particular conduit configuration or array need not be fixed, but may vary with conditions of convenience of hook-up for a given dye beck, or even vary for a given array on a given dye beck depending upon conditions of switching the array between conducting or conveying a heating fluid on the one hand and a cooling fluid on the other hand.

Functionally the benefits of this invention lie not only in the improvement of conditions of visibility in the upper portion U of the dye beck but also, and particularly, in improvement of conditions in which the actual dyeing of fabric is effected. Here it should be noted that as a given rope of fabric is circulated within the dye beck by action of the takeoff and follower reels it is, at any given time, partly in and partly out of the bath of dyeing liquid. While dye materials or ingredients are absorbed into the fabric as the fabric is moved through the dye bath, the actual fixation of the dye in the fabric is effected largely by an oxidation reaction while the dye-soaked fabric is moved through the air or vapor space above the dye bath. That happens in the course of the fabric being drawn up over and exposed upon the slatted idler reel 17, passed to takeofl reel 18, and then carried over that slatted reel in an essentially fully exposed condition before being lowered into the dyeing liquid again.

The oxidation reaction is accelerated with and by increasing temperature of the environment or atmosphere in which it takes place. In dye becks constructed according to the teachings of the prior art and thus lacking a heat source at the position of topside heat transfer fluid conduits 27 and 28 the temperature of the vapor region above the surface of the dye bath tends to decrease from the surface of the hot liquid to the top, unheated surface of the enclosing shell. Thus the fabric to be dyed is moving in its non-immersed or air-exposed run through a region which is at least somewhat cooler, perhaps significantly cooler, than the dye bath itself. In the course of use of the present invention, on the other hand, the presence of a hot fluid such as steam flowing through conduit arrays 27 and 28 means that the temperature gradient through the upper or vapor space U from the surface of the dyeing liquid to the top of the beck is not only not a declining one but may well be a rising one.

Thus the exposed portion of the fabric, that portion above the surface of the dyeing liquid at any particular time, is running in a hot condition at all times with consequent acceleration of the oxidation reaction whereby the dye material soaked into it in liquid chamber LC becomes fixed. Thus the presence of a heat source at the top of the dye beck, that is, in the position of conduit arrays 27 and 2%, has the significant effect of increasing the working capacity of a dye beck of a given size by reducing the time during which a given piece or rope of fabric need remain in the beck for adequate fixation of dye in it. Said in other words, the dye beck of the present invention can process more loadings of fabric within a given period of time than a dye beck of similar dimensions constructed only according to the teachings of the prior art.

For comprehension of the present invention in its broader aspect it must be understood that the most important thing about conduit arrays 27 and 28 is their location at the top of the dye beck, not that they are conduits of any particular form or even that conduits for steam or another hot fluid be used at all. Indeed, for example, an electric heater or heaters could be used quite well at the location in question so far as maintaining the desired conditions of temperature throughout vapor space U is concerned for purposes of suppression of condensation and acceleration of dye fixation, results or effects which are achieved together and by the same means. Indeed, just so far as provision of heating effects is concerned, electric heaters could be used to replace not only conduit configurations 27 and 28 but also configurations or arrays 23, 24, 25 and 26.

On the other hand, however, electric heaters at all or any of the designated locations could perform no function except a heating function, and separate and essentially coincidental means would have to be provided to allow for cooling the dye beck and its contents when the dyeing action or reaction is to be terminated or short stopped, and the interior of the beck reduced sufficiently in temperature to allow the beck to be opened and dyed fabric removed from it without undue discomfort or danger. Heavy fumes could be discharged by blowing out the dye beck with steam or compressed air applied at connections S or CA, but that would not achieve gross cooling very rapidly. Such cooling is achieved most conveniently by circulation of a refrigerant or chilling liquid or fluid through conduit arrays which serve otherwise for the conducting of heating fluid. The conduits or conduit wrappings shown, as taken from disclosures in my US. Pat. No. 3,318,376 as aforesaid, are essentially in the form of troughs each having in transverse cross section a rounded central portion and outwardly flaring edge portions with contiguous edges of adjacent conduit runs being bonded to each other and to a base surface of either shell 1 or partition wall 2 or 3 by a single deposit of weld material.

Protection by Letters Patent of the present invention in all its aspects as the same are set forth in the appended claims is sought to the broadest extent that the prior art allows.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a dye beck comprising wall means defining a closed, shell-like body disposed to be partly filled with dyeing liquid through which fabric to be dyed may be circulated and further disposed to have said dyeing liquid maintained in a heated condition within it, the improvement which comprises means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof whereby the region within said body above the surface of dyeing liquid partly filling it may be maintained at a significantly elevated temperature.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 in which said means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof is capable of maintaining said region within said body above the surface of a dyeing liquid partly filling it at a temperature sufficiently elevated to prevent condensation of vapor rising from said liquid surface.

3. The improvement according to claim 1 in which said means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof comprises a heat transfer fluid conduit formation directly on a surface of said body.

4. The improvement according to claim 3 in which said surface of said body is its outside top surface.

5. In a dye beck comprising wall means defining a closed, shell-like body having one end and another end and disposed to be partly filled with dyeing liquid through which fabric to be dyed may be circulated and further disposed to have said dyeing liquid maintained in a heated condition within it, the improvement which comprises l means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof whereby the region within said body above the surface of a dyeing liquid partly filling it may be maintained at a significantly elevated temperature, and (2) imperforate transverse partition means within said body in spaced relation to each end thereof and to each other and extending vertically to approximately the midheight of said body, said partitions defining between them the longitudinal extent of the liquidcontaining region of said body.

6. In a dye beck comprising wall means defining a cylindrical, shell-like body having ends and at least one observation port therein, means supporting said body in a substantially horizontal attitude, and reels within said body for supporting and moving fabric to be dyed, the improvement comprising (1) imperforate transverse partition means within said body disposed in spaced relation to each end thereof and to each other so as to define a dyeing liquid containing compartment within the body, (2) heat transfer fluid conduit means directly defined on and extending over a substantial area of the outer surface of each of said partitions, (3) additional heat transfer fluid conduit means directly defined on the outer surface of said body and extending over a substantial area of the lower half thereof and (4) further heat transfer fluid conduit means directly defined on the outer surface of the body and extending over a portion of the uppermost part thereof so that with heating fluid circulating through all said conduit means the heat imparted to the space within the body above the surface of dyeing liquid by said further conduit means minimizes the formation of visible vapor in said space thereby permitting visual observations of a dyeing process.

7. The improvement according to claim 6 which further comprises perforated plate means secured to and spaced from the inner surface of each of said partitions, said perforated plates terminating short of the upper edges of said partitions so as to define weirs within said dyeing liquid containing compartment, and drain means communicating with the spaces between said partition means and said perforated plates.

8. A dye beck comprising (1) a horizontal shell-like body, (2) longitudinally spaced transverse partitions within said body defining therewith a dyeing liquid containing compartment through which fabric to be dyed may be moved, said partitions terminating approximately at the midheight of said body, and (3) heat transfer fluid conduit defining means formed with and extending over a substantial portion of at least one surface of each partition, and further formed with and extending over a substantial portion of at least one surface of the lower half of said body and a portion of at least one surface of the top of said body through a lengthwise range approximately coextensive with the longitudinal extent of said compartment.

9. A dye beck construction for use in a fabric dyeing operation of the type in which pieces of fabric to be dyed are circulated through a dye bath, said construction comprising (l) horizontal side and vertical end wall means defining a tank, (2) vertical partition means within said tank inwards of each end wall and having upper edges terminating at approximately the midheight of the tank so as to define a liquid-containing compartment within the tank, (3) means for introducing a dyeing liquid into said compartment, (4) heat transfer fluid conduit means including run and return bend members welded to each other and to the outer surface of each of said partitions to define therewith first and second serpentine fluid conduits extending throughout a major portion of the area of one side of each partition, each said serpentine fluid conduit having opposite end run portions each having an opening therein so that heat transfer fluid may be circulated through said conduits, (5) additional heat transfer fluid conduit means including run and return bend members welded to each other and to the outer surface of the side wall to define therewith third and fourth serpentine fluid conduits each having opposite end run portions each having an opening therein so that heat transfer fluid may be circulated through said third and fourth conduits, one end run portion of each said third and fourth conduits extending along the bottom of said tank approximately at the longitudinal center line thereof and the other end run portions of said third and fourth conduits lying at the approximate midheight of said tank, the length of each run of said third and fourth conduits being substantially coextensive with the longitudinal distance between said partitions, and (6) further heat transfer fluid conduit means including run and return bend members welded to each other and to the outer surface of the upper portion of the tank to define therewith fifth and sixth serpentine fluid conduits each having opposite end run portions each having an opening therein so that heat transfer fluid may be circulated through said fifth and sixth conduits, said end run portions being parallel to one another and with one end run portion of each of said fifth and sixth conduits lying on opposite sides of and adjacent the longitudinal center line of the top of said tank and the other end run portions of said fifth and sixth conduits being respectively in spaced relation to said other end run portions of said third and fourth conduits, the runs of said fifth and sixth conduits being substantially coextensive in length with the runs of said third and fourth conduits, whereby during a dyeing operation with fabric being circulated through a dye bath in said liquid-containing compartment circulation of a heating medium through said first, second, third and fourth serpentine fluid conduits heats the dye bath and circulation of a heating medium through said fifth and sixth serpentine fluid conduits heats the space within said tank above the dye bath.

10. A dye beck construction according to claim 9 which further comprises plate members connected to the inner surfaces of said partition means in spaced relation thereto and each having a vertical dimension less than that of the associated partition so as to define a debris collecting chamber at each end of said liquidcontaining compartment, and drain means connected to and through said wall means at the bottom of each debris collecting chamber.

ll. A dye beck construction according to claim 9 whic further com rise lon i tudinall ali n d airs of brac (ets secured tcl sai partitions and ext nc lin above the upper edges thereof with one pair of brackets being higher than the other, fabric reels supported separately by said pairs of brackets, the one of said reels supported by the higher pair of brackets having a transverse cross-sectional configuration such that a piece ofv fabric passing thereover will be folded and dropped in folds to the bottom of said liquid-containing compartment, and drive means supported from one of said end 

1. In a dye beck comprising wall means defining a closed, shelllike body disposed to be partly filled with dyeing liquid through whiCh fabric to be dyed may be circulated and further disposed to have said dyeing liquid maintained in a heated condition within it, the improvement which comprises means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof whereby the region within said body above the surface of dyeing liquid partly filling it may be maintained at a significantly elevated temperature.
 2. The improvement according to claim 1 in which said means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof is capable of maintaining said region within said body above the surface of a dyeing liquid partly filling it at a temperature sufficiently elevated to prevent condensation of vapor rising from said liquid surface.
 3. The improvement according to claim 1 in which said means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof comprises a heat transfer fluid conduit formation directly on a surface of said body.
 4. The improvement according to claim 3 in which said surface of said body is its outside top surface.
 5. In a dye beck comprising wall means defining a closed, shell-like body having one end and another end and disposed to be partly filled with dyeing liquid through which fabric to be dyed may be circulated and further disposed to have said dyeing liquid maintained in a heated condition within it, the improvement which comprises (1) means for heating said body in the vicinity of the top thereof whereby the region within said body above the surface of a dyeing liquid partly filling it may be maintained at a significantly elevated temperature, and (2) imperforate transverse partition means within said body in spaced relation to each end thereof and to each other and extending vertically to approximately the midheight of said body, said partitions defining between them the longitudinal extent of the liquid-containing region of said body.
 6. In a dye beck comprising wall means defining a cylindrical, shell-like body having ends and at least one observation port therein, means supporting said body in a substantially horizontal attitude, and reels within said body for supporting and moving fabric to be dyed, the improvement comprising (1) imperforate transverse partition means within said body disposed in spaced relation to each end thereof and to each other so as to define a dyeing liquid containing compartment within the body, (2) heat transfer fluid conduit means directly defined on and extending over a substantial area of the outer surface of each of said partitions, (3) additional heat transfer fluid conduit means directly defined on the outer surface of said body and extending over a substantial area of the lower half thereof, and (4) further heat transfer fluid conduit means directly defined on the outer surface of the body and extending over a portion of the uppermost part thereof so that with heating fluid circulating through all said conduit means the heat imparted to the space within the body above the surface of dyeing liquid by said further conduit means minimizes the formation of visible vapor in said space thereby permitting visual observations of a dyeing process.
 7. The improvement according to claim 6 which further comprises perforated plate means secured to and spaced from the inner surface of each of said partitions, said perforated plates terminating short of the upper edges of said partitions so as to define weirs within said dyeing liquid containing compartment, and drain means communicating with the spaces between said partition means and said perforated plates.
 8. A dye beck comprising (1) a horizontal shell-like body, (2) longitudinally spaced transverse partitions within said body defining therewith a dyeing liquid containing compartment through which fabric to be dyed may be moved, said partitions terminating approximately at the midheight of said body, and (3) heat transfer fluid conduit defining means formed with and extending over a substantial portion of at least one surface of each partitiOn, and further formed with and extending over a substantial portion of at least one surface of the lower half of said body and a portion of at least one surface of the top of said body through a lengthwise range approximately coextensive with the longitudinal extent of said compartment.
 9. A dye beck construction for use in a fabric dyeing operation of the type in which pieces of fabric to be dyed are circulated through a dye bath, said construction comprising (1) horizontal side and vertical end wall means defining a tank, (2) vertical partition means within said tank inwards of each end wall and having upper edges terminating at approximately the midheight of the tank so as to define a liquid-containing compartment within the tank, (3) means for introducing a dyeing liquid into said compartment, (4) heat transfer fluid conduit means including run and return bend members welded to each other and to the outer surface of each of said partitions to define therewith first and second serpentine fluid conduits extending throughout a major portion of the area of one side of each partition, each said serpentine fluid conduit having opposite end run portions each having an opening therein so that heat transfer fluid may be circulated through said conduits, (5) additional heat transfer fluid conduit means including run and return bend members welded to each other and to the outer surface of the side wall to define therewith third and fourth serpentine fluid conduits each having opposite end run portions each having an opening therein so that heat transfer fluid may be circulated through said third and fourth conduits, one end run portion of each said third and fourth conduits extending along the bottom of said tank approximately at the longitudinal center line thereof and the other end run portions of said third and fourth conduits lying at the approximate midheight of said tank, the length of each run of said third and fourth conduits being substantially coextensive with the longitudinal distance between said partitions, and (6) further heat transfer fluid conduit means including run and return bend members welded to each other and to the outer surface of the upper portion of the tank to define therewith fifth and sixth serpentine fluid conduits each having opposite end run portions each having an opening therein so that heat transfer fluid may be circulated through said fifth and sixth conduits, said end run portions being parallel to one another and with one end run portion of each of said fifth and sixth conduits lying on opposite sides of and adjacent the longitudinal center line of the top of said tank and the other end run portions of said fifth and sixth conduits being respectively in spaced relation to said other end run portions of said third and fourth conduits, the runs of said fifth and sixth conduits being substantially coextensive in length with the runs of said third and fourth conduits, whereby during a dyeing operation with fabric being circulated through a dye bath in said liquid-containing compartment circulation of a heating medium through said first, second, third and fourth serpentine fluid conduits heats the dye bath and circulation of a heating medium through said fifth and sixth serpentine fluid conduits heats the space within said tank above the dye bath.
 10. A dye beck construction according to claim 9 which further comprises plate members connected to the inner surfaces of said partition means in spaced relation thereto and each having a vertical dimension less than that of the associated partition so as to define a debris collecting chamber at each end of said liquid-containing compartment, and drain means connected to and through said wall means at the bottom of each debris collecting chamber.
 11. A dye beck construction according to claim 9 which further comprises longitudinally aligned pairs of brackets secured to said partitions and extending above the upper edges thereof with one pair of brackets being hIgher than the other, fabric reels supported separately by said pairs of brackets, the one of said reels supported by the higher pair of brackets having a transverse cross-sectional configuration such that a piece of fabric passing thereover will be folded and dropped in folds to the bottom of said liquid-containing compartment, and drive means supported from one of said end walls and operatively coupled with said one fabric reel.
 12. A dye beck construction according to claim 9 in which said horizontal side walls are altogether in the form of a cylinder having opposite ends; said vertical end walls comprise dome-shaped heads each having a cylindrical extension projecting therefrom, and said vertical partitions are welded to the cylindrical extensions of said dome-shaped heads which are welded in turn to the opposite ends of said side wall cylinder. 